Window structure



I Jam. 22, 1957 w. A. CURTZE 2,778,067

WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 18, 1955 7 7 FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

WINDOW STRUCTURE Walter A. Curtze, Erie, Pa.

Application November 18, 1955, Serial No. 547,711

2 Claims. (Cl. 20-12) This invention is a window with spring pressedvertical guide channels at one jamb which exer-t enough friction to holdthe upper and lower sash in any position without sash weights. Thechannels have screw receiving wells which limit the movement away fromthe jamb and these wells are also used to support the springs.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is an elevation of the lower end of the floatingguide channels, Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 isan enlarged view of one of the springs.

In the usual window frame there are spaced vertical jambs 1 connected atthe bottom by a sill 2 and at the top by a header (not shown). Inaddition to these structural elements there is interior and exteriortrim which it is not necessary to illustrate for the purposes of thepresent invention.

In Figs. 1 and 2, on one of the jambs 1 there is a pair of boating guidechannels 3 arranged side by side for a double hung window. Each of theguide channels has a web 4, the outer surface of which is formed to makea tongue and groove connection with the vertical edge of a sash 6. Eachof the guide channels has side flanges 7 which extend inwardly towardthe jamb and terminate in inturned stiifening flanges 8. The parts sofar described are or may be of common construction.

For proper operation it is necessary that the guide channels be movableinwardly toward the jamb a sulficient distance so that in the innermostposition the sash will be clear of the guide channel at the oppositeedge so as to permit removal of the sash. When the sash is removed,there must be some means for stopping the out ward movement of thechannels so that the channels will remain in place in the window frame.It is also necessary that there be springs mounted in some mannerbetween the jamb and the channel so as to bias the channels outwardlyinto engagement with the sash so as to maintain tight engagement withthe sash. All of these objects are obtained by the construction bestshown in Fig. 2. As there shown, the inner surface of web 4 has a tongueand groove element 9 in which are fixed wells 10. Each of the wells hasits bottom wall 11 terminating substantially in the plane of theinturned flanges 8. There will ordinarily be two or three of these wellsspaced along the guide channels, the larger number being necessary forheavier window sash. Extending through the bottom walls 11 of the wellsare screws.12 having heads 13 which are normally spaced from the bottomwalls 11 and which limit the outward movement of the channels away fromthe jamb. The screws are threaded into the jamb and provide a convenientmeans for attaching the channels to the jamb. On each of the wells 10 isa coil spring 14 having the major portion of its length made up of turnsof diameter less than the spacing between the flanges 8 and greater thanthe width of the tongue and groove element 9. When the spring is in itsoperating position, the ends 15 and 16 respectively rest on the jamb 1and on the inner wall surfaces of the guide United States Patent2,778,067 Patented Jan. 22, 1957 channels on each side of the tongue andgroove element 9. The relatively large diameter of the coils of thespring provide stability so the turns of the spring do not tend to tiltor cock and interfere with the screws 12. .In order to fasten the coilsprings 14 in place, at the inner end 16 there are spiral convolutions18 terminating in one or more turns 19 of slightly smaller insidediameter than the outside diameter of the wells 10. The turns 19 providea tight grip on the wells which fasten the springs in place. This isdesirable because the springs are on the inside of the channels andunless securely held in place might become dislodged while the channelswere being assembled to the window frame. Since the spiral convolutions18 are limited to a few turns, the stifiness of the spring is notafliected. The springs will have essentially uniform springcharacteristics independent of defiection.

Because the springs are very easy to assemble, the assembly of thesprings can be delayed until the guide channels are to be installed in awindow frame. At that time the size of the window will be known andsprings of the desired stiffness can be selected. That is, by assemblingsprings of three stitfnesses, the same guide channels can be used forsmall, medium and large sized windows.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a window frame having jambs, a floating metal guide channel on oneof the jambs having a web spaced from said one jamb with the center partof the web formed to a tongue and groovemember for mating with a sashand guiding its opening and closing movement, the channel having sideflanges extending inward from the web toward thejamb, a plurality ofcup-shaped wells fixed to the tongue and groove member and extendinginward toward the jamb with the bottom walls of the wells between theside flanges and having screw holes therein, screws extending throughthe holes into the jamb and having heads within the wells in allpositions of the channel and normally spaced from the bottom walls ofthe wells, and coil springs surrounding the wells and extending from theinner side of the web to the jamb to bias the channel away from thejamb, said springs having small diameter turns at one end telescopedover and gripping the wells to support the springs and larger diameterturns spaced from the side walls of the wells.

2. In a window frame having jambs, a floating metal guide channel on oneof the jambs having a web spaced from said one jamb with the center partof the web formed to a tongue and groove member for mating with a sashand guiding its opening and closing movement, the channel having sideflanges extending inward from the web toward the jamb, a plurality ofcup-shaped wells fixed to the tongue and groove member and extendinginward toward the jamb with the bottom walls of the wells between theside flanges and having screw holes therein, screws extending throughthe holes into the jamb and having heads within the wells in allpositions of the channel and nor mally spaced from the bottom walls ofthe wells, and coil springs surrounding the wells and extending from theinner side of the web to the jamb to bias the channel away from thejamb, said springs having turns of diam-- eter greater than the width ofthe tongue and groove member providing the biasing force on the channeland said springs at the ends adjacent the web having a spiralconfiguration terminating in turn telescoped over and gripping the wellsto support the springs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,631,336 Weissman Mar. 17, 1953

